As neurodivergence is frequently viewed using the medical model of disability, focus is primarily on problems. Impairments, inabilities, difficulties. Meltdowns, learning differences, problematic stims. However, as perception moves more and more towards the social model of disability, so too can the focus not only on the fact the majority of supposed disability is due to society, but that there are benefits. Many neurodivergent traits are strengths, both to the individual, and within a neuronormative society. Furthermore, the combination of both neurotypical and neurodivergent neurotypes in society leads to a stronger, happier, safer, more plentiful experience for all.
Strengths in Neurodivergence
To confirm most neurodivergencies, assessors are required to acknowledge deficits, impairments, and limitations, compared to an expected norm. Unfortunately, these difficulties are often the only aspects communicated to parents of neurodivergent kids; the things they can’t do, do “wrong”, “should have” therapy to overcome, etc. What is frequently overlooked is the extensive list of skills and strengths that are commonly associated with various neurotypes.
While not all people with these neurotypes will have any/all of these strengths – much as it is incredibly rare for a person to tick every box for their neurotype when it comes to impairment or difficulties – many will recognise these associations:
Autism
- Attention to detail
- Good memory
- Ability to hyperfocus
- Creativity
- Honesty and loyalty
- Empathy, particularly for animals, and other neurodivergent people
- Heightened senses
- Increased correlation with giftedness
- Problem solving skills
- Pattern recognition
- Strong work ethic
- Read more here and here…
Bipolar Disorder
- Increased spirituality
- Greater empathy for others
- Creativity
- Resilience
- Read more…
Depression
- The drive to assess less positive aspects of life, and improve them by making changes, through therapy, or seeking support.
Down Syndrome
- Early social skills
- Empathy and social understanding
- Natural adeptness with technology
- Visual learning skills
- Strong visual short-term memory
- Read more…
Dyslexia
- Creative thinking
- Narrative reasoning
- Visual thinking
- Empathy
- Strong memory
- Read more…
Dyspraxia
- Advanced reading skills
- Good auditory skills, possibly including improved language and music skills
- Strong communication
- Creativity
- Empathy
- Hard-working
- Persistence and determination
- Read more…
I could go on, and on, and on…
Embracing the Strengths
If a neurotypical person was great at maths, and not great sport, some effort might be put in to help them improve their coordination so they can join in social sporting events, but largely the focus would be on their mathematical prowess. They would often be celebrated for this skill, encouraged to improve further, and – in many school settings – often even allowed to opt out of the things they are less adept at to focus on their skill. When making decisions about their future, these skills would be highlighted, and deemed a likely focal point for studies and career. It’s not likely someone would take a student who is excellent at maths, and dreadful at tennis, and make their goal in life to train this kid for Wimbledon!
And yet when it comes to our neurodivergent kids, this is often what happens. Medical professionals, some educators, and sometimes society, decide that anything that is “weird” or “below average” needs to be normalised, and that strengths and skills are secondary. How many people have found their autistic child’s psychologist encouraging them to buy their child books about their favourite topic? And how many people have been told by their child’s psychologist to use this interest as a dangling carrot to force them to do things they don’t like? Or told to integrate this topic into a therapy they despise (which can be helpful), without also actually encouraging the interest itself?
Just because your child is neurodivergent, it doesn’t mean their strengths and skills are overshadowed by difficulties, impairments, or differences.
Encouraging the Strengths
Encourage these strengths as much as possible – in ways that are relevant and accepted by your child – and help your child learn to use their skills to counteract some of their tricky traits.
Maybe your child:
- Has situational mutism and social anxiety, but writes amazing letters; let them have penpals rather than forcing play dates on them all the time.
- Struggles to write holding a pencil, but types the most incredible stories; let them be a writer in the most convenient and productive way!
- Loves, and is fantastic at, football, but finds speaking difficult; consider whether all the spare time needs to be allocated to speech therapy, or if there’d be equal – or greater – benefit in switching out that Saturday session for football training.
Strengths in Neurodiversity
While neurodivergence is being of a neurotype other than neurotypical, neurodiversity is the presence of a diverse range of neurotypes. Your child is neurodivergent. Your child’s school is neurodiverse. Workplaces are neurodiverse. Society is neurodiverse. Families with neurodivergent members are often neurodiverse.
The existence of neurodivergence in society is not something to be tolerated, or simply accommodated. Just as our environment wouldn’t survive without biodiversity, the human population wouldn’t continue without diverse sexes, society wouldn’t function without age diversity, and everything would be terribly boring without cultural, racial, gender, and other diversities, neurodiversity is necessary for providing:
- A variety of perspectives
- Strengths to counteract other people’s difficulties
- Interest and connection between like-minded and complementary people
- Improved productivity in workplaces
- Increased innovation, creativity, and strategic thinking to society
- Support, mentoring, and teaching structures, through different personalities and neurotypes helping and educating each other
Neurodiversity – the absolute inclusion, rather than tolerance of, neurodivergent people into society – is a crucial aspect of human diversity, and should be celebrated. Neurodivergent and neurotypical neurotypes, alike!
Happy Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2024! I hope you take the time to recognise and appreciate the diversity around you, and just how crucial a role neurodivergent people play in the best aspects.